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Personal Flags for Members of the Royal Family in Canada

Last modified: 2024-06-01 by rob raeside
Keywords: canada | queen | canada: queens standard | prince of wales | prince william | duke of cambridge |
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[King's standard for Canada] image by Zoltan Horvath, 30 April 2024


See also:


King's Standard, Charles III

The new Sovereign's Flag for Canada - which replaces Queen Elizabeth II's personal flag in Canada - and the new heraldic Canadian Royal Crown have been revealed: https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3535
Miles Li, 7 May 2023

The flag is a 1x2 flag and was officially flown at Government House in Halifax May 6 2023 for the first time for King Charles III's coronation.
https://www.canadiancrown.com/did-you-know.html
Mike Palamino, 22 August 2023

Regal crown for use in Canada

[Regal crown for Canada] image by Martin Grieve, 14 May 2023

I found two pictorial sources for the King's Standard, Charles III:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sovereign%E2%80%99s_Flag_for_Canada.jpg
https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianConservative/comments/139ujs6/royal_canadian_symbols_changed/
Zoltan Horvath, 30 April 2024


Queen Elizabeth II's personal Canadian flag

[Queen's standard for Canada] image by Graham Bartram

It is a banner of the arms of Canada (I'm sorry but I don't know much of blazon, but I'll try to say it: four quarters in the upper two thirds of the flag. These are: I, England (three leopards or (gold) in a gules (red) field); II, Scotland (a gules (red) lion in or (gold) field with something around it with fleurs-de-lis); III, Ireland (a or (gold) harp in an azure (blue) field); IV, France royal (three fleurs-de-lis or (gold) in an azure (blue) field). On the bottom field of the arms, is Canada ( three maple tree (?) leaves in a argent (silver) field). In the flag, there is a big E in the center. This is the same pattern as in Australia's Queen Elizabeth standard So, it would be interesting if someone sends information about the arms of other countries ruled by Queen Elizabeth II.
João Madureira - 28 April 1998

She has six or possibly seven different personal flags. There is a special one for each of Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and possibly Barbados. A fairly plain blue flag with a large gold "E" for use in other Commonwealth countries. A Royal Banner, usually called the Royal Standard, for use in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies, Dependent Territories, and in non-Commonwealth countries when appropriate.

There used to be four other country-specific personal banners for Malta, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sierra Leone, but they became obsolete in 1974, 1992, 1976 and 1971 respectively when the countries concerned became republics within the Commonwealth.
David Prothero - 3 May 1998

A small, (and perhaps even pedantic) point of clarification: when in non-Commonwealth countries, the Queen flies the standard of the nation she is representing. While admitting that for most such visits she serves in the capacity of Queen of the United Kingdom (and therefore flies the Royal Banner of that country), this is not always the case. In 1959, for example, as part of the ceremonial surrounding the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway, she visited the United States in her capacity as the Queen of Canada (vice the UK). Unfortunately, the Queen's Personal Flag for Canada was not instituted until 1962, so she couldn't fly this banner during that tour, but she did display the Canadian coat of arms (vice the British) throughout this tour (i.e., on the license plates of cars, on speakers' podiums, etc.); and, of course, her personal flag for Canada is basically just these Canadian armorial bearings, displayed as a banner, centrally defaced with a wreathed "E" and crown.

Does anyone know of any other similar example of the Queen displaying her (non-UK) personal flag, in a non-Commonwealth country, (i.e.., signifying she is there representing that particular Commonwealth country, and not the UK)?

What about Australia? I seem to recall her visiting several south Pacific islands in her capacity as head of state of Australia, vice the UK? Can any one substantiate this?
Glen Hodgins - 4 May 1998

It is interesting to note that at the unveiling of the New Zealand War Memorial in London on 11 November 2006, it was her personal standard for New Zealand that flew throughout the ceremony, not the British royal standard.

And this happened in London, only a few hundred metres from Buckingham Palace.
Brent Costley, 19 February 2007


Charles, Prince of Wales' personal Canadian flag

[Prince of Wales standard for Canada] image located by Dean McGee, 29 June 2011

The Federal Government has unveiled new flags for Prince Charles and Prince William for use in Canada. The Prince of Wales' flag adds the white (Argent) label to the Royal Standard, and puts the P of W's ostrich plumes in place of the Royal Cypher.
The announcement was made today via Facebook and Twitter, and the Royal Tour 2011 iPhone app.
Dean McGee, 29 June 2011

A more traditional announcement from the Governor General: http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14174
Glen Hodgins, 29 June 2011


Personal Canadian flag of William, the Duke of Cambridge

[Duke of Cambridge standard for Canada] image located by Dean McGee, 29 June 2011

The Federal Government has unveiled new flags for Prince Charles and Prince William for use in Canada. The Duke of Cambridge's flag has his label with the red escallop from his mother's family arms, and puts his own cypher in the centre, an ornate "W", topped with a ducal coronet. According to English Wikipedia the coronet for William is that of a child of the heir apparent, which is slightly different from that of other grandchildren of the sovereign.
The announcement was made today via Facebook and Twitter, and the Royal Tour 2011 iPhone app.
Dean McGee, 29 June 2011

A more traditional announcement from the Governor General: http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14174
Glen Hodgins, 29 June 2011

On 9 September 2022, William, Duke of Cambridge, was named the new Prince of Wales. This means:
(1) the Personal Canadian flag of the Duke of Cambridge is de facto retired; as it is the banner-of-arms specific to Prince William, defaced with the 'W' cypher of Prince William, it can never be used by any future Dukes of Cambridge.
(2) as the Prince of Wales' personal Canadian flag is the 'generic' banner-of-arms of the heir apparent, defaced with the Prince of Wales's feathers, it can theoretically be used by the current and future Princes of Wales.
(3) This said, the Canadian Heraldic Authority may, some time in the future, remove all the badges (whether with a cypher or with the Prince of Wales's feather) from all the Personal Flags for Members of the Royal Family in Canada, to better conform with the new Sovereign's Flag for Canada.
Miles Li, 8 May 2023


Personal Canadian flag of Princess Anne, Princess Royal

[Princess Anne, Princess Royal standard for Canada] image located by Mark M., 22 December 2016
Source: http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2442


Personal Canadian flag of Prince Andrew, Duke of York

[Prince Andrew standard for Canada] image located by Mark M., 22 December 2016
Source: http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2532


Personal Canadian flag of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

[Prince Edward standard for Canada] image located by Mark M., 22 December 2016
Source: http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2531


Flag for those members of the royal family without a Canadian flag

[Flag for those members of the royal family without a Canadian flag] image located by Mark M., 22 December 2016
Source: http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2655


Silver Jubilee flag (1977)

[1977 Jubilee flag] image located by Esteban Rivera, 20 May 2022

Image from the original located here: https://collections.rmg.co.uk/media/353/786/d3429.jpg, source: https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-1122. Picture caption reads: "Flag, Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. White wool/nylon bunting with bade of Queen's Crown between olive branches.
Inscribed below '1977 THE QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE'. Rope and toggle attached. Measurements: flag: 914.4 x 1879.6 mm. Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Esteban Rivera, 20 May 2022


Golden Jubilee flag (2002)

[2002 Jubilee flag] image by Jack Taylor, 23 November 2020

Canadian Golden Jubilee flag is white with a half-wreath of green, yellow and red maple leaves around the EIIR insignia and crown.
Jack Taylor, 23 November 2020


Diamond Jubilee flag (2012)

[2012 Jubilee flag] image located by Pete Orenski, 11 May 2012

Canadian Diamond Jubilee flags are provided by The Flag Shop Vancouver.
Pete Orenski, 11 May 2012


Platinum Jubilee flag (2022)

[2022 Platinum Jubilee flag] image by Zachary Harden, 22 May 2022
based on photo

In a short vignette showing the Prince of Wales’ recent visit to Canada there is a clip of what appears to be the Queen’s 70th anniversary flag in an interior display: https://twitter.com/i/status/1527466224782921728
Rob Raeside, 20 May 2022

The Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem
The primary text version https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/platinum-jubilee/emblem/guidelines.html#a1) of the guidelines on the proper usage of the Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem is presented following the alternate PDF version.

The Royal Cypher, EIIR, appears at the centre of the emblem, which makes a personal reference to the Queen as a way of marking this significant anniversary of her reign. Below the Royal Cypher is the number 70, depicted in greyish white to allude to the rare and precious metal platinum, the name of a jubilee marking 70 years. These elements are framed by a 7-sides shape, along with 7 maple leaves and 7 pearls to mark the 7 decades of steadfast service to Canada. Depicted in red and white, the national colours of Canada, the figure embodies the idea of celebration. The Royal Crown appears at the top of the emblem.
The emblem was created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority and drawn by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald.
Esteban Rivera, 20 May 2022

[2022 Platinum Jubilee flag] image located by Zachary Harden, 22 May 2022

Judging by the photos at https://twitter.com/GGCanada/status/1490820390259765252/photo/1 and https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/queens-platinum-jubilee-launch, the flags displayed by government offices seem to be using the full color (vector art) version from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/pch/images/campaigns/platinum-jubilee/emblem/pj-emblem-colour-version-from-vector.png.
Zachary Harden, 22 May 2022